Apparatus for developing and washing prints.



I H. c. GAWLER APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AND WASHING PRINTS.

' I APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 22', 1909. @35 14g, 19%53Efii8fi 556m. 28, 1909,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

LVVENTOR H. O. GAWLER: APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AND WASHING PRINTS.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN.22,1909. 935 14 v Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F/ 2; 4 a flai /Z62" W WWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rrEnnY-c. crewLEE;v 70F rimace, rumors,- Ass GNon To THE c. F. PEASE BLUE PRINT acmnnaz amwsnrrnr COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION or IZI OIS.

rrAaarUs FOR nEvELoPrNG AND WASHING PRINTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Application filed January 22, 1909. Serial No. 473,7 51.

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of I-l l-IllOlS, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for De veloping. and Washing Prints, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to means for developing and washing prints, and while more particularly intended for blue prints made upon a continuous sheet, is not necessarily limited thereto.

The object of this invention is to provide simple, novel, and elfective means for washing, fixing and drying prints, said means being so arranged that it is very economical, both in the use of'chemicals and wash water.

A further object is to provide, in combination with a print washe' and drier, a developing machine having novcl relation thereto.

The preferred embodiment of the inven lion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thercthrough. Fig. 3 isa detail sectional View of the developing machine preferably employed in connection therewith.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodin'ient disclosed, a base is employed, in the form of a box 1 that contains a reservoir 5 for the fixing chemi ral. Over this reservoir is located a bottom (3, forming a catch pan 7 for waste water, the same being discharged from said catch pan through a suitable pipe 8. Mounted upon this base or reservoir, is a frame 10, including rear standards 11 carrying inclined braces 12 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

Located in the lower portion of the frame, is a catch pan 13, having a downwardly inclined bottom, to the lower portion of which is connected a discharge pipe 14 that delivers into the reservoir 5. Arranged Within the upper portion of this catch pan, is a spray pipe 15 having transverse portions 16 ]i rovided with spray orifices 17. A pump 18- appa 'atus, and has an intake 19 conm'ninieating with the reservoir 5, its discharge being suitably coupled to a delivery pipe 20 that is connected to the spray pipe 15, all of which is illustrated in Fig. 1.v It will thus be evident that if a living chemical in liquid form is placed in the reservoir 5 and .chemical will be discharged. through lhc orifices l7, and dropping into the catch pan 13, will be delivered through the pipe l-t back into the reservoir. A complete circulatory system is thus produced.

The printed and developed sllcct is indicated by a heavy dash line 21, and comes from the developing machine, hereinafter described, over a roller. It then dips downwardly under a roller 2*. constituting a stop for the prcliminarv wash water. as hereinafter explained. This shcet thence passes upwardly at an inclination over suitable supporting rods 24, which may, if desired, be statioiniry, and around a roller 2o. ll is the upper face of the sheet that is printed. and in order to prevent injury to said face by contact with the rollcr 2b. a spray of water is directed against the same by m ans of a suitable pipe 27, producing a lilm upon the surface of the roller. "he said slicer" then passcs in a substantially horizontal direction, with its printed face iuulerncalh and exposed to the spray. from the pipe 1(3, as will be ev dent by reference to Fig. 2. After leaving the catch pan 13, its direction of movement is changed by still another rellcr 27, and it then passes upwardly at an inclination over the drying :ncans. tobedcscribed. Arranged directly below the roller 27, is another catch pan 2S separated from the catch pan 13 by a partition wall 2%). The discharge from said catch pan 28 is through an opening 30 delivering to a pipe 31 that extends beneath the catch pan l3. and has a transverse portion 2-32 provided with spray orifices 33. Located over the upper strctch supply pipe Ji-l, which has orifices 35 dclivcring jets downwardly upon the upper face of the sheet.

'ilh the arrangement above described. it willbe noted that the alter delivered from the orifices 35. flows down the sheet. thor oughly i-lcansing the'samc, and is collcclcd of any suitable character forms a part of the the pump is operated by suitable means, this of the sheet and above the roller 27 is a water in the catch pan 28, and passing from thence,

through the pipe 31, it is again delivered to the sheet prior to the passage of said sheet over the jets of chemical. The water flows down theshect' beneath the catch pan l3, and is stopped by the roller 23, collecting in the catch pan 7 and discharging through the outlet 8.

Supported on the inclined braces 12 is suitable drying means, which maybe of any desired character, but in the present instance, is shown in the form of steam pipes 36, over which the upwardly ascending stretch of the sheet passes. Said sheet doubles around an upper roller 37, and passes downwardly beneath the pipes 36, thence around a roller 38 to a winding drmn 39. An operating friction roller 40 preferably coiipcrates with the roller 88. The sheet passing between the same and the said roller may be positively driven, as shown at 41 from any suitable source of power. The said rollers 38 and i0 are preferably belted,

as illustrated in dotted lines at 42, to certain of the other rollers so as to insure their proper simultaneous movements.

Extending from the front portion of the base or reservoir 4 are spaced tracks a3, and operating in said tracks are wheels 4:4 journaled in a frame 45. This frame carries the developing mechanism, which consists of a reservoir 4&6 and an upper tank- 47 having a discharge communicating with said reservoir, as illustrated at i8. Rollers 49, carried by a bracket 51, of the frame 45, are arranged on opposite sides of the tank 47, and between the rollers 49, is a developer delivering pipe 50, which receives its supply from the reservoir 46, the same being pumped thereto in the same manner as the fixing chemical is delivered.

Briefly described, the operation of the machine is as follows. The paper comes from the printing machines, passes over the rollers 4-9 and beneath the .pipe 50, where thedeveloper is applied. Thence itis received on the roller 22, and passes through the washing, fixing and drying apparatus. In its passage, it is first washed of the developer, the fixing bath is applied, and it is then rewashed, it being coated with the water used in the final wash, which is also used in the preliminary cleansing operation. Passing over the heater, the sheet is thoroughly dried, and is finally rolled.

The relative :l djllstmtllt between the developiug and washing machine is of very.

I machine,

considerable importance, inasmuch as by moving'the former toward or from the latter, the period of development can be altered, as desired in order to secure the best results.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus'of the character set forth,

the combination with a print washing machine, of a developing machine delivering the prints thereto and adjustable toward and from the same. 2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a print washing machine, of tracks extending from said and "a developing machine delivering prints to the washing machine and having wheels that run upon the tracks.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with washing and drying means, of a roller for directing a sheetthereto, and means for applying a film of water to A the roller. r

a. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a base forming a reservoir, a frame mounted thereon, and means for drying a printed sheet carried by said frame, of means for delivering water HENRY c. GAWLER.

\Vituesses:

C. F. PnAsn,

upon the upper face of said sheet at onev 

